Applications from 18-year-olds are on the rise, including from Britain's poorest families. But part-time and mature students are being deterred. [...] George Osborne talks of his vision of moving to a “higher wage economy”. But while improvement in skills are necessary to lifting productivity, wages and boosting growth, adults are being put off investing in their education. The consequences are particularly deleterious for those from disadvantaged backgrounds, who are more likely to apply to university later and on a part-time basis; the unattractiveness of part-time courses thus imperils social mobility. [...] The fees system for mature and part-time students is putting too many off developing the skills they need for the UK to thrive. [ at least fund a scheme for public-private partnership w companies to chip in ~30% of the cost for their employees ]